Objections lodged with Kentish Council over plans to lease a free camper van area to the CMCA.

A stoush has erupted over a Kentish Council proposal to lease a free camper van area at Railton to the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia for the exclusive use of its members.

Happy campers: Rodney McCarthy, of Railton, chats to Queenslanders Peter and Chris Blackley and Michael and Chris Chilcott at the free van site.

The plan has upset some Railton ratepayers who wrote to the council to object. Rodney McCarthy, president of the Railton and Districts Development Association, said the council was urged to consult more before a decision is made. Kentish Mayor Don Thwaites said the CMCA approached the council to develop the site and was keen to establish new parks in Tasmania. The CMCA told the council it would bring more vans to Railton.

“The CMCA has big plans to improve the amenities at a number of parks which they would manage and get a caretaker in to look after their parks,” Councillor Thwaites said. It would cost CMCA members $6 a night to stay at the Railton site.

“We were trying to get as many low-cost campers as we could there, which seemed like a good idea, but Rodney is not convinced, and he is asking us to look at an alternative, and I think that’s fair enough,” the mayor said.

He said the council would discuss the objections raised at a workshop on Tuesday night. He rejected the idea the council did not publicise its plans well enough. “It was discussed at one of the regular community meetings we have every six months and people at the meeting were in favour of it.”

Councillor Thwaites said this was still the consultation period and the council had not made a commitment. He said a lease arrangement or development application would have to go before council. Councillor Thwaites said if the CMCA did lease the site, others could camp at a free site offered by the Railton Hotel or at Sheffield or Lake Barrington. He said the council told the CMCA anyone should be able to use the dump point if the lease went ahead.

“We’re not doing it for the money we’re trying to increase the people staying there. Whatever we do we will have to take a gamble,” the mayor said.

Mr McCarthy said the free area is used by self-contained camper vans and caravans. He said it was established by the community which negotiated to get the council to extend it. He said a Tasmanian Community Fund grant was used to add outdoor exercise equipment and businesses helped with donations. “The reason the council is doing this is so it can wash its hands of it and minimise its responsibility for the area,” he said.

“I’m wary a deal has been done.”

Mr McCarthy said he understood a development application has been lodged to take over the free camping area, which includes Railton’s only off-leash dog area, for the exclusive use of CMCA members. “For every person they attract I think they are going to turn someone away,” he said.

“Over three days I surveyed campers and 75% of people staying there were not CMCA members. It’s a town asset at the moment and the council wants to hand that to an exclusive cub which we’re not happy with.”

Mr McCarthy said he had nothing against CMCA members camping at Railton.